Governor-General's visit to Vancouver ends early | News

[Taller, Better]

from today's Globe and Mail ..link:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080125.wgovgenearly0125/BNStory/National/home



Governor-General's visit to Vancouver ends early

STEVE MERTL

The Canadian Press

January 25, 2008 at 9:17 PM EST

VANCOUVER — She is the Queen's representative in Canada and she's accustomed to warm welcomes, admiring words.

But what Governor-General Michaëlle Jean got in Vancouver this week for the first time was heckling and curses — admittedly from a fringe group that wasn't aiming primarily at her — and it ended her B.C. visit on a sour note.

Ms. Jean jetted out of Vancouver on Friday morning, cancelling her last event in a six-day tour after two nasty incidents in the city.

Anti-poverty protesters turned up at an event Thursday evening, where a man not connected with the demonstrators was arrested after being stunned with a taser.
Governor General Michaelle Jean, left, is flanked by police as she arrives at the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre in Vancouver Wednesday, Jan. 23.
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Governor General Michaelle Jean, left, is flanked by police as she arrives at the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre in Vancouver Wednesday, Jan. 23. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)
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It came a day after Ms. Jean was dogged by potty-mouthed hecklers as she did a walkabout on the poverty-plagued Downtown Eastside surrounded by a heavy police escort.

Ms. Jean wore a frozen smile as one protester welcomed her as “your fucking highness.”

Her press secretary, Marthe Blouin, said it's the first time Ms. Jean has been treated this way.

Whether at home or abroad, Ms. Jean has been a popular figure since her appointment to the vice-regal post in September 2005.

A child refugee from impoverished Haiti, Ms. Jean grew up in Quebec to become a journalist, film-maker and social activist, helping set up a network of women's shelters in the province.

She made a triumphant return to her home country, a highly successful tour of Africa and has never been less than cordially received on her Canadian swings.

But her record earned her no slack with the most cynical advocates for Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, who've seen their share of poverty tourists.

It's known as Canada's poorest postal code, a festering sore in the middle of a hip, glitzy city, with open drug-dealing, routine violence, homelessness and appalling living conditions for many residents lucky enough to have a roof at all.

Her predecessor Adrienne Clarkson got a similar, if less profane reception in September 2004, from protesters who rejected her visit as a staged photo-opportunity that did nothing to show her the real face of poverty there.

Problems have worsened despite earnest promises from all levels of government, and tensions have risen recently as residents perceive the city seems more interested in putting on a good show for the 2010 Winter Olympics than addressing their needs.

Ms. Jean walked into this minefield after spending 90 minutes at the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, a refuge and source of help for women on the margins. She was there by invitation, presumably with something to offer from her own work in Quebec.

“The idea was really to come to Vancouver, to visit the Downtown Eastside, to meet these women, to listen, to learn from them ... and to share some of her own experiences she's seen across Canada since she's been appointed,” said Ms. Blouin.

When she emerged to walk down to nearby Chinatown, protesters from the militant Anti-Poverty Committee paced her party.

Their insults were aimed mostly at a city councillor escorting Ms. Jean but some also vented their anger at her with mockery and obscenities.

The incident forced Ms. Jean to cancel a planned street news conference to talk about what she'd learned from the women.

“She felt sad on Wednesday because she thought that what was important was the voice of these women,” said Ms. Blouin.

“She was hoping that she would at some point be able to speak about what she had seen, but of course the voices of the demonstrators were louder.”

More anti-poverty protesters showed up Thursday evening outside a young artists' forum Ms. Jean attended.

Police said the demonstrators caused no trouble but officers ended up scuffling with a man they described as a known street-level drug dealer outside the event.

The 35-year-old man was standing in a busy intersection, screaming and ignoring demands to get off the road.

“They try and go arrest him and he punches one of our policewomen, breaks her glasses, and she gets a cut over the eye,” Vancouver police spokesman Constable Tim Fanning said Friday.

Officers were unable to subdue him but a passing transit police officer stepped in to help, using his taser to stun the man so he could be handcuffed, Fanning said.

“He had nothing to do with Michaëlle Jean; he wasn't a protester,” said Const. Fanning. “He's one of our well-known guys down there who's a very well-known criminal to us.”

Police have charged Leonard Ablog Dyco of Vancouver with assaulting a police officer.

Ms. Blouin denied reports Jean observed officers stunning Mr. Dyco, who police suspect was experiencing a cocaine psychosis.

“She saw that there were some policemen outside and police cars but she didn't witness (the incident),” said Ms. Blouin. “It was too far away from where she was speaking.”

Ms. Blouin said Jean's apparent early departure Friday were not connected with the incidents.

In fact, given Clarkson's experience, Ms. Blouin said Ms. Jean and her entourage were prepared for protests.

“We knew that the Downtown Eastside wouldn't be easy, so we're not shocked by what happened,” Ms. Blouin said Friday in an interview before Ms. Jean departed. “It's exactly what we thought would happen.”

Ms. Jean had planned to visit Vancouver's Goh Ballet Academy, run by friend Eddy Toussaint.

“The idea was for Madame Jean to meet him,” Ms. Blouin said.

What had been a last-minute addition to Ms. Jean's itinerary was cancelled when Mr. Toussaint contacted Ms. Jean's party Thursday evening, saying he was unavailable for reasons beyond his control.

“So we returned to what was the official program, which was to leave (Friday) at 10 o'clock,” Ms. Blouin said.

The spokeswoman in Jean's Rideau Hall office said the Governor-General also wanted to return to Ottawa quickly to prepare for the repatriation ceremony for Canada's latest military casualty in Afghanistan.

Despite the incidents Ms. Blouin said Ms. Jean has not written off the Vancouver experience.

“We met wonderful people,” she said. “As she was saying last night to me, she feels that she's even richer, she learned so much more and she was able to share so much more.”

[Taller, Better]

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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080125.w2govgentaser0125/BNStory/National


Man tasered outside Governor-General event

MARSHA LEDERMAN

Globe and Mail Update

January 25, 2008 at 6:39 AM EST

VANCOUVER — An Urban Arts Forum hosted by the Governor-General in Vancouver's downtown eastside was disrupted Thursday night when police tasered and arrested a man right outside the glassed-in gallery where the event was held.

The takedown was clearly visible from inside, where Michaëlle Jean was sitting with her husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond.

The forum, which opened the floor to youth to offer their ideas about how the arts can help the disenfranchised, was hearing from a woman who said her organization was denied funding for arts-related programming, when attention turned to the street outside.

"Police brutality!" people began to yell. "Take some pictures!"
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Some attendees rushed outside and recorded the action on video or cellphone cameras.

Outside, four Vancouver police cruisers blocked the intersection of Hastings and Carroll Streets, and eight officers gathered around a man, who was being held on the ground.

"Get your knee off his back!" someone in the crowd yelled at police.

The man was tasered, police later confirmed.

Police said the incident was sparked when they tried to get the man out of the intersection, where he was almost hit by a bus. Police said they approached him and were taunted by him. A witness at the scene, who declined to be named, confirmed the suspect had "challenged" police.

Vancouver's police chief, Jim Chu, who was at the gallery for the forum, went outside and stood with his officers while the man was being held on the ground.

The suspect was taken away in a police wagon. Police indicated he could be charged with assaulting a police officer.

Back inside, Chief Chu spoke to the crowd and addressed what had just gone on.

"People here instantly looked out the window and said police brutality. There is a system [where] you investigate incidents. There is a system called courts, right? And courts have to be independent. And so many people jumped right to the conclusion that the police for no reason went out and used excessive force. And that's not what we're about. Why would officers do that?

"You know, there are times, very, very small times, when maybe an officer in the heat of the moment perhaps loses their temper, okay, that could happen. But what I could say is this: of the thousands and tens of thousands of times that our officers encounter people, and they encounter people that either are suffering from mental disorder issues they're angry, they're high on drugs, they're involved in crime, they're fleeing from other things that are happening, we have to interact, we have to engage, and we have to enforce our laws. And that's just part of our job. And that involves using force sometimes."

Neither Ms. Jean nor Mr. Lafond addressed what had happened in their closing remarks. But when Ms. Jean's comments on how the evening had gone were disrupted by the sound of a man yelling outside the door, she paused. "I don't mind that," she said. "It's okay."

[mr.x]

But when Ms. Jean's comments on how the evening had gone were disrupted by the sound of a man yelling outside the door, she paused. "I don't mind that," she said. "It's okay."

I don't blame her for leaving early. How she was treated was terrible, everyone is saying that. The mayor and city councillors are also saying what they did is a disgrace to the city, how they could treat a women like that.


We need a final solution for these people before the 2010 Games. Have these people ever figured out that screaming and yelling gets nothing done??? The Anti-Poverty Committee, according to 24 Hrs, was also involved. I don't know why so many don't like Jean, she's quite respectable and comes from a unique background. For her to make it all the way to the top is truly amazing.

And in two years time, Jean will be back in Vancouver with a member of the Royal Family (the Queen, Prince Charles, or Prince William from what i've heard) to open the 2010 Games at the opening ceremony.

[mr.x]

Anti-poverty protesters could learn a thing or two from Governor-General

Letter
Published: Saturday, January 26, 2008

Re: Downtown Eastside warms to Jean. Jan. 24

Anti-Poverty Committee members must certainly be applauding themselves for their protest of Gov.-Gen. Michaelle Jean's visit to the Downtown Eastside.

Clearly, as a child fleeing a ruthless dictatorship in Haiti, she would not have had the opportunity to view extreme poverty. In Montreal, while helping to establish shelters for battered woman, she would have been immune to the plight of the needy and the vulnerable. As a journalist, constantly reporting on the challenges faced by the down-and- out, her exposure to the problems associated with poverty would have been only limited. And since her appointment as Governor-General, her focus on honouring people, particularly woman, aiding the cause of immigrants and the poor, and her advocacy on their behalf have further removed her from the situation.

Had the activists educated themselves on the background and the actions this incredible woman has taken on behalf of the poor, they might be in a better position to make changes to eliminate poverty instead of simply protesting against it. I am sure that Jean would be more than capable of offering them the lesson.

Ted Noakes

[nova9]

I vow to do everything legally possible to undermine the efforts of the APC. If that means never helping the homeless, I'll do that. Joking. Ugh, so sick of these people. How does being rude help your cause, especially when you're being a dickhead to someone that's not really involved or responsible for the problem - I'd maybe understand (sorta) it it was Sam Sullivan or Gordo visiting but Michaelle Jean, cmon!

[Ravman]

i dont think Mr. X would understand if it was gordo or sam... seems like he is a diehard supporter.

I personally think if the GG had come unannounced then she wouldnt have seen this... Her notice of visit was everywhere. i mean when the former GG (just before she left) came to our high school and we took her on a tour of our neighbourhood in east van and it was fine. no media no nothing.

[nova9]

no, i totally agree. i meant that if they were rude to gordo or sam sullivan, i would have anticipated that and could rationalize their actions (that they are going after the people they view are responsibile for the problem they are advocating against). but the GG has nothing to do with it so I'm surprised by the APC and DERA's inability to distinguish someone's act of kindness and care to an actual politician's action.

[Taller, Better]

I think if the GG had been sincerely interested in viewing this for herself, she would have come unannounced with a couple of bodyguards, or in a car. Bringing along a circus of 50 photogs and reporters is bound to make the people there feel like they are part of a big photo op for her, or like monkeys in a zoo. The last GG did EXACTLY the same thing in the same area, and she got yelled at, too. Nothing whatsoever was done to improve the area after that GG photo op trip, either. These trips are meaningless unless they lead to improvements, and aren't just designed to make the GG's look like they are caring toward the "little people".

[canucker16]

if the APC put half as much effort into getting jobs as they do vandalizing and protesting they would be contributing more to society than their current schtick. they have no credibility.

but serioulsy, it is ridiculous when dignitaries do the "poverty tourism" photo op thing.

[Huhu]

I think if the GG had been sincerely interested in viewing this for herself, she would have come unannounced with a couple of bodyguards, or in a car. Bringing along a circus of 50 photogs and reporters is bound to make the people there feel like they are part of a big photo op for her, or like monkeys in a zoo. The last GG did EXACTLY the same thing in the same area, and she got yelled at, too. Nothing whatsoever was done to improve the area after that GG photo op trip, either. These trips are meaningless unless they lead to improvements, and aren't just designed to make the GG's look like they are caring toward the "little people".
The GG is there to raise awareness, not to anonymously take a self-righteous feel-good tour and write about it in her memoirs. I mean honestly, what could she possible do in her position? It's her JOB to go to places to get her picture taken (I suppose it's expected that the APC be incapable of understanding this concept). If she were to always travel incognito, she wouldn't be fulfilling her responsibility.

[Taller, Better]

^^ I feel just the opposite. I think she, and the last GG, had their personal public image more in mind than anything else. When the photo op turned sour, she snapped:"This is a circus", and high tailed it out of Vancouver.

[Huhu]

^^ I agree that her reaction may have been inappropriate, but I still think that her effort to be there was not.

With the recent bad press about "police brutality," it could have been an attempt to get out before she got linked to anymore images of people getting tasered.

[alesmarv]

I say ship all these losers out to Haiti, see how long they survive. Personally i have already made it my goal to make their lives as miserable as I can. All these people should either be in a mental institution(governments fault), a drug rehab center(partially governments fault) or locked up at a northern labor camp. So unless their screaming for more mental institutions, more drug rehab centers or more prisons and labor camps then they should just shut the #$%$ up because im not and no one else is interested in giving out free hand outs. Our social services are meant to rehabilitate, or separate from the rest of society due to being a safety hazard for everyone else, not free hand outs for being a lazy %##$ nut.
Anyone ever see that old scifi movie called Crackers?

[Taller, Better]

^^ You should be living in Beijing... that is the way they are dealing with their poor and downtrodden. Hope life doesn't take any unexpected twists for you, and that you wind up getting a taste of your own medicine.

[mr.x]

^^ You should be living in Beijing... that is the way they are dealing with their poor and downtrodden. Hope life doesn't take any unexpected twists for you, and that you wind up getting a taste of your own medicine.

The thing is a lot of these people don't even make an attempt. The APC's leader David Cunningham proudly said he works 2-days a week (for a government paid social service job), and yet he thinks he is entitled to social housing and welfare. He said he wouldn't move out of downtown to work anywhere else....he didn't even want to commute out of downtown to work! He also wouldn't work more than 2 days!

Our system is meant to help people who are actually in need. Those who are handicapped, suffering mental illnesses. The system isn't meant to serve able-body and mind-capable people for the rest of their lives, they are taking away from those who need help.

That said, these able-body/mind-capable people should be given a jump start to their lives...maybe like 3-5 years worth of support, and they need to show to government social workers that they are doing their absolute best to get themselves out of the hole.

[Taller, Better]

Well, it is a problem that was pretty much ignored and allowed to grow and fester for quite some time. I remember even when I was young that area of Vancouver was rough. Amsterdam is also going through pretty much the same problem.

[alesmarv]

^^ You should be living in Beijing... that is the way they are dealing with their poor and downtrodden. Hope life doesn't take any unexpected twists for you, and that you wind up getting a taste of your own medicine.

When I was younger I had my fair share of problems with drugs etc. I turned my life around when I was 19-20. Some of my friends didnt and they are exactly in those positions now and I have zero sympathy for them because I knew them well and they know the consequences of their actions yet decided to do nothing about it. The only people that are down under right now are those with a mental illness who I do feel sorry for and they should receive help, and im not talking about a free cheque once a month but real help. The other group of people are those too lazy to work, those who dont care and think they can just live by doing nothing and screaming for everyone to give them handouts. Those people I have no sympathy for and wouldn't care if they die a lonely cold and miserable death in some street corner for all I care, though I can tell you those people wouldn't if everyone just decided to ignore them and give them no hope of a free hand out. Treat them like you would treat your spoiled and immature nephew or something, ignore them to teach them some responsibility for them selves. I also have no problem with welfare and other social services to help capable people get back up on their feet but those services must have a time limit and end eventually(maybe a year or two). Look at that APC loser(Cunigham I think) hes been bitching and whining for a few years now, in that time he could of gone back to school, picked up a trade and set himself up for a comfortable life, now he deserves nothing but a kick in ass and maybe a good old labour camp up north if he turns to a life of crime to support his laziness. Though I do suppose laziness can be classified as a mental condition also but it cant be cured with a free paycheck.

[Taller, Better]

Ahh... that explains it. You are "reformed".

[alesmarv]

I wasnt a hard core drug addict or anything but I certainly did my fair share of drugs and had my fare share of run ins with the law as a youth. Most of my good friends from those times are crack addicts, heroin addicts, in jail, dead or on the street. I knew all of them very well through out my youth so I know how they got to where they got. Im all for geting people back on their feet, all these services are present here to do this. The vast majority of people on the street are mentaly ill, often from heavy drug use. These people shouldent be geting welfare and free acomodations but rather be in mental health facility geting treatment until their beter. The rest are just lazy criminals and scam artists, these people shouldent be helped after they are given a decent chance to get back up on their feet. These people will find a way to get by once they realize theres no free hand out, if they turn to a life of crime to suport themselves then they get locked up where they can be re-evaluated for any mental ilnes and serve their punishment. I like this saying. Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and he eats for a life time. Those who cant be taught need mental help and not free handouts, those who are there just for the free handouts dont need them because their already taught.